Monthly Archives: November 2011
Most say panthers exist Some recall stranded circus boat
EASTERN N.C. – Last week’s front-page story, which asked for reader feedback about the possibility of black panthers in our area, generated dozens of responses.
The Nov. 10 story also featured a photo taken in 2001 by Reelsboro resident, Robert ‘Cody’ Griffith, that lacked sufficient detail for a positive identification. E-mails, letters, and phone calls poured in. Readers also stopped our publisher on the street to regale him with their theories and recollections.
Almost all who said they had seen a black panther were reluctant to reveal the exact whereabouts for fear hunters with mal i…
Could this be a black panther?
Several years ago, this reporter wrote a news story about Maureen Bivona’s encounter with what she believed to be a black panther. At the time, Bivona was riding her bike on Janeiro Road near its intersection with Kershaw Road in the southeast corner of Pamlico County.
Bivona swore she had seen a large, black “cat-like” animal crossing Kershaw Road in broad daylight.
After my interview with Bivona, I conferred with both state and federal biologists who explained, quite convincingly, that the habitat, breeding range, and general terrain of our area could never host such an animal.
Yet, sev…
